Abstract:
The Historical period is an interesting phase for observing the changes which affected the
material culture and the ideology of the ancient group in Sri Lanka. The production of personal
ornaments made of animal bones and teeth improved and new types appeared. A new kind of
ornament object was often linked to a new costume expressing a particular social identity, and
therefore to new social messages. This paper focuses on the personal ornaments of the early
historic groups of Sri Lanka and taken into consideration their geographical distribution, the
raw materials employed, the exchange networks, the interrelation between different groups and
the funerary practices. The analysis of the changes in materials, shapes of the objects can also
give an insight into early historic social identities.
